Chapter 8: The Gold
"Onto the next subject matter," Aquaman announced, "The next additions to the Justice League. Nightwing, if you could."
A series of holograms appeared in front of the Justice League, "Thanks Kaldur. We have three potential new candidates." said Nightwing. "Raven, Supergirl and the Green Lantern Simon Baz." He told the League as he rotated between each image of the three candidates.
"I personally think all three have earned their spot." Aquaman spoke. "Any objections?" Nightwing asked.
"None here." Said Artemis.
"I too do not disagree." Said Wonder Woman.
"They have earned their spot," nodded The Flash.
Multiple Justice League members voiced their opinions with none of them disagreeing with Kaldur or Dick. At the other end of the table Superman stood up from his seat, "Then it is decided." He confirmed. "Raven, Supergirl and Green Lantern will be the three newest members of the Justice League." He smiled.
The most senior members of the League began to step up from the seats, "Sorry everyone there is one more thing." Red Robin spoke up. The attention of the League turned to Tim as they sat back down in their designated seats, Guy Gardner audibly groaned.
Red Robin stepped from his seat, "As some of you know my team, in your absence, managed to fight off three of the deadliest people on the planet." He began.
"The Ravager, Rose Wilson, lead Icicle and Bloodwork into Kord Industries only they stole just one thing." Tim grew serious.
"What did they steal?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Gold Kryptonite." Tim answered. Everyone sat around the table turned towards Superman to see his expression but his mouth was leaning on his hands that were clasped together.
"It could be nothing." The Flash said.
"It's never nothing with the Light, Wally. You and I both know that." Blue Beetle replied.
Tim cut off the discussion before it started and looked towards the red caped hero, "Superman, I ask that you allow me and my team to figure this out. This is personal to a lot of them, especially since Rose is involved."
Superman thought for a moment and finally looked towards Red Robin, he stepped up from his seat and moved towards Tim and planted his heavy hand onto his shoulder, "You have my trust Red Robin. If anyone can deal with this, it's you."
Tim nodded a thank you to Superman and looked towards Aquaman to signal that he was finished.
"That's it for this meeting, you are free to do as you wish." Kaldur announced.
Tim turned the key and his car's engine stopped. He grabbed his bag and stepped out from his car, quietly closing the door behind him and then making his way towards the front door to his and Stephanie's house. He patted each of his pockets until he eventually found his house keys which he promptly used to enter hte building and leave the cold night. Tim released his scarf from his neck and placed it and his black jacket onto the coat hanger by the doorway, afterwards he kicked off his shoes and made his way into the living room.
"Hey sweetheart." Stephanie smiled.
Tim smiled back to her, she was looking at him by tilting her head over the arm of the couch since she was lying across it with a blanket covering her.
"You should be sleeping," He told her as he walked over to her, planting a kiss onto her forehead.
"And you should be refilling this bowl of icecream," Stephanie ordered passing the empty bowl towards him. Tim chuckled to himself and took the bowl from her hands and walked over to the kitchen behind them. "How was the meeting?" The blonde haired woman asked.
"They're letting me and the team handle it." Tim replied as he scooped one last chunk of mint icecream into the bowl. He walked over to his girlfriend and passed her the bowl, Stephanie then lifted her legs from the couch and Tim sat underneath them and then moved her legs down onto his lap.
"That's good, right?" Stephanie asked.
Tim nodded to her, "Yeah, it is. I've been following every lead to do with the resurgence of 'The Light'. If they move then I'll know about it." he sighed.
Stephanie reached over to the lounge table and placed the bowl onto it and lifted her legs from Tim. She swung her feet onto the ground and then leaned over and placed her head against her boyfriend's shoulder, "What's the matter babe?" she worried.
Tim breathed through his nose, thinking if he really wanted to say what was on his mind.
"Tim, you're doing that nose sigh thing that you always do when you can't figure something out." Stephanie warned, "What's up?" she asked again, placing her hand on the opposite side of his face pulling him to look at her.
"It's nothing Steph, don't worry about it." He answered.
Steph removed her hand from his cheek and crossed her arms, "Fine." she pouted.
"Then I won't tell you something really important then." She huffed as she led back down into her seat.
Tim grew curious and turned to his girlfriend, "What's really important?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing." Stephanie replied.
"Don't be difficult." Tim added.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Am not."
"Yes. You are."
"You're the one not saying what's on your mind Tim."
"Because there isn't anything."
Stephanie pulled the blanket over her arms and covered it over her mouth and looked towards the television, beginning to ignore Tim. "Steph?" Tim said attempting to get her attention.
"Come on..." He goaded as he moved over her.
Steph looked above her towards Tim, "Tell me what's got your feathers in a bunch and I'll share." Steph proposed.
Tim sighed through his nose again, "Deal."
Tim planted a kiss on Stephs cheek and sat back down into his seat while Stephanie pulled the blanked down from her mouth.
"I'm going to retire from being Red Robin." Tim revealed.
Steph wasn't surprised, he had been talking about eventually doing so for the last few years, it was bound to happen eventually. "Are you sure about this?" She asked sincerely.
"Yes." He replied. "I can do so much more as Tim Drake than I can as Red Robin. There are more than enough crime fighters to fill my spot." He added.
"I don't disagree." She said honestly, "You're a genius Tim and that genius is wasted beating up bad guys."
Tim felt a weight off his chest now that he had finally said it out loud to someone. He couldn't be happier that Stephanie was the one to hear it first, she always supported him and always believed he could save the world as himself, without the cowl. However, Tim now felt nervous about sharing it with his family.
Stephanie saw that Tim's mind was beginning to wonder so she moved his face towards her and kissed him, "I have something to share as well, remember?" She said.
Tim chuckled and gave her another kiss, "Oh yeah, sorry."
Steph took one of Tim's hands and slowly moved it towards her stomach with a huge grin on her face. At first Tim was confused at what it meant but then the cogs in his brain started turning until finally he jumped from the couch and cheered "No way!", "Are you really? Like I'm gonna be?"
Stephanie's smile couldn't get any larger, "You're going to be a dad." She announced.
"NO WAY!" He cheered again, beginning to run around the living room.
Tim finally calmed down when he ran infront of Stephanie and slipped onto his backside in front of her. He quickly lifted himself from the ground and planted a kiss that was filled with love onto her lips.
"Bruce is not babysitting when our kid can walk," Tim joked.
"Well that's just good parenting," Stephanie chuckled.
Tim kissed Stephanie one more time and then placed his hand onto her stomach. The two looked at each other and smiled, they couldn't be happier.
"Rose Wilson." The voice spoke.
"Yup, that's me." The white haired assassin replied.
A being made up of solid light appeared before the assassin, he had no features or face. It was only shaped in that of a humanoid.
"You have the item." The being said.
"I do." Rose confirmed.
The white being reached it's bright hand towards the sphere in the assasins hand but Rose moved it from the being's reach. "Money first." She warned.
"It is being transferred now." The voice echoed around her.
Rose pulled out a small digital tablet and looked at her account, she was a lot richer than she was a few minutes ago. She tossed the ball into the humanoids grip and turned to walk away. "We are not done with you yet Rose Wilson," It announced.
Rose turned around and looked back towards the being, "I said I was done after this mission. I'm not one for world domination." She shrugged.
"This is an easy task. You would be rewarded well for it." The humanoid said.
"What is the task?" Rose asked, pulling her mask down over her face.
"There is someone we need for you to capture. Dead or Alive, it is up to you." The being revealed.
"Who is it?" The Ravager asked.
